This is the eighth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, and Part VII before continuing.
“So, you’re coming over to my place on Wednesday, right?” Sven said.
“What? I thought we were done with that,” said Alicea.
“No, you took me to hang out with your friends last week. Now it’s my turn, so you have to come to my place.”
“Um, I don’t know if I can. Work has been crazy lately and I’ll probably have to work late Wednesday and/or get there early Thursday morning.”
Sven drooped in that way Alicea was all too familiar with, but she couldn’t back down this time.
“I’m sorry, Sven, but I don’t have control over my job. Work is work, you know?”
Sven’s face darkened in a way Alicea had never seen before. “I know. I know that you only want to get together when it’s convenient for you.” Sven crumpled his straw in his hand and threw it on the floor.
“What? That’s not true at all. I made a commitment to meet you here every weekend and I’ve only missed two of our get togethers because I was out of town. I have gone out of my way to spend time with you, even when I had plans with other friends.”
“Yeah, rub it in why don’t you? I really want to hear more about all the friends you have to choose from, while I have no one. I have no one here but you, Alicea.”
“That’s not my fault.”
The next thing Alicea knew, she was on the sticky bar floor and the right side of her face was throbbing. Someone helped her up, and as she got to her feet, she looked over at Sven, who was surrounded by several bystanders who had all jumped in, ready to restrain him.
But he no longer needed restraining. The anger had completely vanished from his face, replaced by horror at what he had done. He opened his mouth to say something, but whatever it was, Alicea didn’t want to hear it. She turned and walked out the door.
To be continued…